Thtjrlow-cumming-bruce



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T. J. HOVELL-TH-URLOW-GUMMING-BRUCE. Spike for Fenoe Wire.

No. 240,083. Patented April 12,1881.

' WITNESSES: IEVENTOE:

ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' THOMAS J. HOVELL-THURLOW-OUMMlNG-BRUOE, OF THURLOW, ooUNTY or SUFFOLK,ENGLAND.

SPIKE FOR FENCE-WIRE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,083, dated April12, 1881, Application filed June 22, 1880. (No model.) Patented inEngland April 6, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, THOMAS JOHN HOVELLTHURLOVWOUMMING-BRUCE, Baron Thurlow, of Thurlow, in the county ofSuffolk, England, have invented a new and improved Hammer- OlosingStaple for Supporting and Guiding Wires or WireGords; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description oithe same.

My invention relates to an improved staple for supporting, retaining, orguiding the wires or wire-cords used for fencing, for bell-hanging, forgarden, and other such like purposes.

My invention consists in a hammer-closing staple, being an eye formedupon the end of a single tapered or pointed shank or prong, theimprovement consisting in making the eye with an opening or slit,through which the wire can be passed into the eye without being threadedor drawn endwise therethrough, the

said opening or slit being in such a position as to be closed by thebending of the eye under the blows of the hammer in driving the stapleinto the post, thereby securely retaining the wire.

The advantages of my improved staple are First, that having but asingleprong it is not liable to split the post, as the ordinary double-prongedstaple generally does to a greater or less extent.

Second,that smaller posts may consequently be used with great economy inthe erection of wire fencing, especially where the transport of theposts presents difficulties. It thus allows thinnings of young woods tobe out earlier and used for fencing purposes, to the great benefit ofthe plantations themselves.

Third, that it takes as firm a hold in the post as a common nail, and isnot liable to become loose and to fall out, as so very frequentlyhappens with the double-pronged staple, leaving the holes and splits inthe post exposed to the decaying influences of the weather.

My improved staple is especially applicable to wire fencing erected onthe Gorim'ony principle, in which slender dropper-s are used.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side view, and Fig. 2 anedge view, of one form of improved staple before it has been driven intothe post. Fig. 3 is a side view of the same as driven into a post andclosed upon the wire.

The staples shown in the drawings are given by. way of example, and I donot limit myself to the precise forms or dimensions shown. The staplemay either be punched of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 out of sheetsof the proper thickness orotherwise made of wroughtiron or other metalsufficiently malleable to permit of the eye bending under the blows ofthe hammer.

to is the shank, and I) the eye, formed with a slit or opening, 0, forthe introduction of the fence-wire. i

In use the shank a is first driven lightly a short distance into thepost without bending" the eye, and the wire is then slipped through theslit or opening 0. The staple is then driven quite home, the blows ofthe hammer at the same time bending the eye sufficiently to close up theopening 0.

I am aware that a staple having one shank and a rigid slotted projectionupon one side for holding a bar or Wire has before been used. Itherefore do not claim a one-shanked staple, broadly; but

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A sin gle-pron ged staple having an eye formed with a slit or openingcapable of being closed in the act of driving the staple, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

The above specification of my invention signed by me the 11th day ofFebruary, 1881. I THOMAS JOHN HOVELL-THURLOW-CUMMING-BRUOE.

Witnesses: 4

CHAS. Boone, 'lnos. MARCH, Both of 2 Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, London.

